Cable connecter



sept. 15. 1925;

J. R. SHOFFNER CABLE CONNECTER .Filed June 21. 1924 ISO Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES P-AT JOHN R. SHOFFNER, OFDORA, PENNSYLVANIA.

e CABLE CONNECTER.

Application led Iune`21, 1924. Serial No. 721,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. SHOFFNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dora, in the county of Jefferson and State 'of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable Connecters, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had tol the accompaning drawings.

T is invention relates to Certain improvements in cable connect/ers and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character particularly adapted for use in connection with a trolley line or kindred power cable whereby a machine may be electrically connected with said wire or cable without interfering with or obstructingthe requisite travel of the trolley.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising relatively movable jaws adapted to effect an electrical connection with the trolley wire or cable by being clamped thereto and wherein the device is provided with a fuse to protect the machine from burning or drawing an exces sive amount of current.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which, when applied, will not short circuit the trolley wire or cable with the roof and which can be connected with said trolley wire or'cable at any point tlierealong.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cable connecter whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of. my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating a cable connecter constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied. position;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the outer end portion of the device as illustrated in Fi re l and free of the work; n

igure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a cable connecter constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention.

Asdisclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an elongated tubular handle formed of composition rubber or other insulating material and which has clinched, as at 2, with the outer end portion thereof the tapered or conical head 3 of a sleeve or cylinder 4 "extending a predetermined 'distance inwardly of the handle 1.

Threaded through the head 3 and within the adjacent end portion of the sleeve or cylinder 4 is a shank 5 carried by the-end portion of the tail-piece 6 of a jaw or tong member 7 said end portion a of the tailpiecef being substantially perpendicularly related with respect to the jaw ortong member 7 and arranged intermediate the ends of said member.

One end portion of the jaw or tong member 7 .is pivotally engaged, as at 8, with a second jaw or tong member 9, the pivoted end portion of the member 9 being provided with an angularly disposed tail-piece 10, the outer or free extremity of which having contact with the outer or tapered surface of the head 8 of the sleeve or Cylinder 4.

The outer or working ends of the jaws or tong members 7 and '.49 are enlarged transversely to aiord increased contacting surfaces, said members or jaws being adapted to have clamping engagement from above with the trolley wire or cable W.

When the wire or cable W is initially positioned between the working ends of the members 7 and 9, said members are heldagainst turning movement, so that upon rotation of the handle l in one direction the portion a of the tail-piece 6 will move inwardly causing the tail-piece 10 tc ide outwardly of the head 3 and thereby effecting a firm or tight clamp of the jaws 7 and 9 upon the wire W. lVhen it is desired to release the members 7 and 9 from the wire W, the handle l is rotated in the opposite direction and as the portion a ofthe tailpiece 6 moves outwardly the requisite lseperation of the jaws 7 and 9 is efiected by the expansible spring 11 interposed between said jaws 7 and 9 and preferably closely adjasleeve 2O being in threaded engagement with a reduced extension 21 carried by the inserted end of the portion a of the tail-piece 6.

The central portion of the insulating sleeveV 19 is intersected by a partition 22 also of insulating material through which is disposed a screw 23, said screw 23 being in electrical contact with the screw 17 hereinbefore referred to. Connected to the screw 23 and to the innerend of the extension 21 is a fuse 24 to provide a safe guard against an excessive amount of current being carried out through the conductor 14 and thereby prevent burning out of the machine or other apparatus to which the conductor 14 may lea My improved connecter as herein disclosed is adapted to be engaged with the wire or cable W from above and in a manner which offers no interference or obstruction to the travel of the trolley T along such wire or cable and said connecter is of a type which may be readily engaged with the wire or cable at any point therealong.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 3, the jaws or tong members 7 and 9 are also adapted to engage the wire or cable from above and the tail-piece 6 of the jaw 7 has threaded therethrough an outstanding pilot shank 26, the outer end of which having contact with the tail-piece 10 of the member 9 so that as the handle 1 is rotated in one direction, the shank 26 will work through the tail-piece 6 and coacting with the tail-piece 10 to bring the members 7 and 9 into requisite clamping action upon the wire or cable W.

From the foregoing .description it is thought to be obvious that a cable connecter constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in portions seating within carrying out my invention vin practice except :1s-hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A connecter of the class described comprising a handle member, a pair of pivotally connected jaws, one of 4said jaws having threaded engagement' with the handle memberand the handle member contacting with the second jaw for moving the jaws one toward the other upon rotation of the handle member in one direction.

2. A connecter of the class described comprising a handle member, a pair of pivotally connected jaws, one of said jaws having threadedengagement with the handle member and the handle member contacting with the second jaw for moving the jaws one toward the other upon rotation of the handle member in one direction, and automatic means coacting with the jaws for imparting sepa-rating movement thereto when the handle member is rotated in the opposite direction.

3. A connecter of the class described comprising a tubular handle member, a jaw having a shank threaded within said handle member, a conductor in connection with said shank, a second jaw pivotally connected with the first named jaw, said handle member` upon rotation in one direction engaging said second jaw to move the same toward the first named jaw.

4. A connecter of the class described comprising a tubular handle member, a, jaw havmg a shank threaded within said handle member, a conductor in connection with said shank, a second jaw pivotally connected with the first named jaw, said handle member being provided with a tapered head, the second jaw having a tail piece for contact with said tapered head whereby rotation of the handle member in one direction causes the second jaw to Amove toward the first named jaw.

5. A connecter of the class described comprising a tubular handle member, a jaw having a shank threaded within said handle member, a conductor in connection with said shank, a second jaw pivotally connected with the first named jaw, said handle member being provided with a tapered head, the second jaw having a tail piece for contact with said tapered head whereby rotation of the handle member in one direction causes the second jaw. to move toward the first named jaw, and means for urging the second jaw away from the iist named jaw and the tail piece in contact with the tapered head.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JOHN R. SHOFFNER. Y 

